: MISSIONARY SURVEYS 


A SERIES OF PAMPHLETS DESCRIBING 
THE VARIOUS MISSION FIELDS OP THE 


AMERICAN BAPTIST FOREIGN MISSION SOCIETY 
~“==TORD BUILDING. ASHBURTON PLACE. BOSTON. MASS. 


NUMBER 5 | ASSAM 
THE ASSAM MISSION 


1. The Country 


SSAM is not a separate country; it is the northeast 
province of India, between Tibet on the north, 
and Burma, another province of India, on the 
south. On the map it looks like a finger-post, 
pointing the way to the vast regions of central 


45" 


Asia. There are many interesting physical fea- ~ 


tures about Assam. In shape it is a majestic amphitheater, 
whose sides rise on the north towards the white crest of the 
Himalaya Mountains, and on the south into the ranges known 
as the “Hills” of Assam. Through the valley between flows 
the great Brahmaputra River. 

The latitude of central Assam is the same as that of southern 
Florida, but the climate is more tropical. Owing to its posi- 
tion, the rainfall in portions of the province is the greatest in 
the world. Vegetation is luxuriant, and in the dense jungles 
fierce wild beasts abound. A few years ago the largest 
herd of wild elephants ever corralled was caught there. 

Tea is the product which gives Assam its chief commer- 
cial importance. The tea gardens of the Brahmaputra 
Valley are among the finest in the world, and among the 
laborers in these gardens some of our most successful mission 
work has been done. Cotton, too, is raised in Assam, and 
the changes of the New York cotton market are felt at 
once at our mission station in the Garo Hills. 


2. The People 


The races and tribes of the province are so numerous that 
80 languages are represented there in a population of more 
than 7,000,000. The people known as Assamese make 
up about one-fourth of this number, and live in the val- 
ley of the Brahmaputra. They are the mixed descendants 
of the Ahoms, who conquered the country centuries ago, 
and like the Anglo-Saxons are on one side related to the 
great Aryan, race. About one-half the population speak 
Bengali, the language of the province next west of Assam. 

It is among the hill tribes that the primitive races of 
Assam are found. They are genuine savages, fierce and 
warlike. In appearance and in some of their customs our 
missionaries compare them to the American Indians. ‘The 
Naga warrior decks himself like a brave, but instead of 
scalps he wears armlets of cowrie shells, to denote the number 
of heads he has taken. Among these rude but virile tribes 
the gospel has gained its greatest victories. 


3. Religions 


While there are many varieties of religion in Assam, it 
may fairly be said that, aside from Mohammedanism, there 
are two principal phases of unbelief with which the gospel 
must contend. 


Hinduism 
The religion of the Assamese who live in the Brahmaputra 
Valley is Hinduism, the most commonly accepted religious 
system in all India, though its observance assumes many 
different forms in the various parts of the empire. The Assam-° 
ese have modified it by many rites and customs of their own. 
Hinduism means idolatry, often of the most repulsive 
kind, and it is just as debasing today as it was when Isaiah 
gave it such a terrible arraignment. It means the domina- 
tion of priests and all the evils of the caste system. It © 
means all kinds of immorality, practised under the sanction 
of a religious system; also indifference and contempt for any 

new religion which may be offered. 


Spirit Worship 
Among the hill tribes of Assam there is no real idolatry, 
but a belief in many evil spirits who are supposed to seek the 
harm of human beings, and whose anger must in some way 


be turned aside. This is done by offering sacrifices of fruit 
or animals. The demon, however, is supposed to be satisfied 
with the useless portions, while the people eat the flesh. 

The belief in these spirits creates a perfect tangle of super- 
stitions, and the people are afraid of all sorts of omens. 
They have, however, a dim belief in a great Spirit who is 
favorable to men; and Whom they ignorantly worship, the 
gospel declares unto them. 


4. Mission Work 


Assam is one of our oldest mission fields. Our first mis- 
sionaries went there from Burma in 1836 in response to an 
invitation from a British government officer. They went to 
the extreme northeast of the province to preach the gospel 
to the hill tribes bordering on China. 

This first mission was broken up by wars among the tribes, 
and so the work was established among the Assamese in the 
Brahmaputra Valley. With courage, patience, and faith 
these workers labored to meet the iceberg of Hinduism. 
There were some remarkable conversions, but for many 
years the Assam Mission progressed very slowly. About 
40 years ago, however, the attention of the missionaries 
was turned again to the hill tribes, the Garos, the Nagas, the 
Mikirs, and others, and from that time Assam began to be a 
bright spot in our mission fields. It is encouraging to know 
that some of the few native Assamese converts were among 
the first to carry the gospel to the savage people of the hills. 

The work among the tea garden coolies, who are immi- 
grants from central India, was begun in 1872, and has been 
very successful. 


Special Features 


Some of the converts from Hinduism have exhibited a 
wonderful transformation of character, showing that this 
citadel of idolatry may be, and must be, cast down. Some 
of the greatest changes that Christianity has ever produced 
are shown among the hill tribes. The photographs that our 
missionaries send home of the primitive savages and of the 
same people after they have accepted Christianity are start- 
ling in their contrasts. 

“He was a man of meekness and gentleness; of such loyalty 
to Christ, of such clear vision in religious matters, such 
practical wisdom, and such strength of character, that 


for many years he has not only splendidly led his church, 
but has been constantly sought as a counselor,” is what a 
missionary wrote about one of the native pastors. 

Another striking contrast is seen between the naked chil- 
dren that run through the filth of the native villages and the 
same children gathered in our mission schools. What a joy 
to have some part in making those faces so happy and bright! 

Self-support by the native churches is making progress in 
Assam. Among the Christians of one tribe one handful of 
the rice measured for each meal is set aside for the Lord’s 
work. One church paid its own pastor, janitor, part of the 
school teacher’s salary, and built a new house of worship, 
worth $200; they also gave $35 for the support of an associa- 
tional missionary. Relatively these are very large sums. 
In addition to this kind of support, the churches are learning 
to conduct their own associations with order and dignity. 


Opportunity 


Wonderful openings have offered among new tribes on the 
Tibetan and Burman borders and the missionaries are zealous 
to press in. Moreover, school and medical work, hitherto 
most successful, need to be greatly extended. God has 
bestowed large blessings on this mission, which should be 
considered as his call to us to go forward. 


Assam Literature 


Assam: | Missionary, Cameralogs 3 18 5) ii. a1) eaveu lentes Price $ .10 
Assam Missionary, OUrVveysis\ ai) ites tele comet asaree fara Bete .O1 
Gospel jamong.the’ Garos,;Dhewis) she ie ies ev eee ee .05 
Guide Boole sy wliter an pur tp tet Reine a See TG ee a ee oe We RC .25 
JorhatiChrstian, senools wien Uk She) emia. ty ANN eee Free 
Under the Roof of the World: or,Snapshotsof Assam ...... 525 


Catalog giving list of general literature on Assam free. Annual Report 
of Society free on receipt of 10 cents to cover postage. 


178-2M-6-18-1919. 


